Electoral Politics in Ghana’s Fourth Republic: In the Context of Post-Cold War Africa

This is a book about the state and the fate of multiparty electoral politics and, to some extent, democratic governance, in Ghana’s Fourth Republic. It presents not only an insight into the trajectories of the five elections since the 1990s, but also provides a historical sketch of elections in Ghana since pre-independence times. It further draws broad lessons for future elections, most significantly, the impending Election 2012.

This work is also unique in putting Ghana’s electoral politics in the broader context of post-Cold War Africa. It argues that while Ghana did not start as a best case scenario, it has subsequently made progress in many respects worthy of emulation by other African States. At the same time, Ghana still carries some of the burdens of consolidating new democracies.